Esther: Week 1

Apr 12

Written By Christie Browning

TIMELINES TO NOTE:

586 B.C. -Fall of Jerusalem (King Nebuchadnezzar takes Jews as captives to Babylon)
539 B.C. - Persia conquers Babylon - Cyrus the Great reigns and gives permission for the Jews to return to Jerusalem
538 B.C. - The first group of Jews return to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel's leadership.
522 - 486 B.C. - Darius I reign (the same ruler we read about in the story of Daniel)
516 B.C. - The temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem
486 - 465 B.C. - Xerxes (Darius' son) reigns in Persia -the king we read about in Esther
479 B.C. - Esther's reign in Persia
458 B.C. - 2nd group of Jews return to Jerusalem with Ezra the priest
445 B.C. - 3rd group of Jews return to Jerusalem with Nehemiah as the governor & Jerusalem's walls are rebuilt
460-350 B.C. - The book of Esther is written as well as the Book of Ezra (written in 440 B.C.) and Nehemiah (430 B.C.)

WEEK 1 READING PLAN

DAY 1: Esther 1:1-8

optional reading: 2 Chronicles 36:15-23

DAY 2: Esther 1:9-12

optional reading: Ezra 1

DAY 3: Esther 1:13-18

optional reading: Ezra 4

DAY 4: Esther 1:19-22

optional reading: Ezra 6

DAY 5: Esther 2:1-4

optional reading: Ezra 7

WHERE DOES THIS TAKE PLACE?

Persia is modern-day Iran
Susha, also known as Shushan, was 1 of 4 capital cities of Persia. It was in modern day southwest Iran.
Susha was a vibrant commercial hub with contacts in India, Egypt, Arabia, and Greece.
While King Darius I was in power, the city grew to more than 600 acres.
Shortly after taking the throne, King Xerxes successfully dealt with rebellions in Egypt and Babylon. He then tried to go after Greece but was not successful.

WEEK 1 OVERVIEW

Xerxes is a successful ruler. He already had multiple conquests under his belt. When the story of Esther begins, we find him holding a "feast" for 180 days. The majority of this was held only for the elite inner circle and was probably where he spent time planning his attack on Greece and convincing his advisors that is was a good plan. The king's strategy session would include regaling his advisors with the stories of his success and parading his wealth and riches to persuade them to go along with the plan.

We see evidence of this strategy session in the king's drinking rules. Kings could demand that those in attendance of the celebration drink whenever the king lifted his cup. However, we see that King Xerxes didn't demand this which means it was more strategy than celebration.

Kings and leaders were known to drink excessively while making decisions. They thought that drunkenness brought them closer to the spirit world. The "feast" ended in a 7-day celebration for the entire city. No doubt this span of "feasting" included extravagant food and drinking.

King Xerxes, in his drunken state, calls for Queen Vashti to come before him and his elite group of gatherers to display her beauty. She was likely already in the room. No doubt she was part of the inner circle. Persian queens were known for going on hunts with their kings as well as some military excursions. She would have easily been invited to this "celebration." But King Xerxes wanted to put her on display... another trophy to convince his advisors that he was a successful king to be feared and followed.

Vashti refuses to be made a spectacle. We don't really know why she refuses, but I think it's because the king was drunk, and she couldn't trust him to be decent in what he might do or say. She was probably unsure of what he would allow the other men do in his drunken state. Vashti had to know that refusing the king would come with steep penalties and punishments so it makes me believe that the alternative, going along with the king's request, would have been worse.

Vashti's refusal to obey the king's command was a slap in his face. The fact that he was just trying to show off his ability to command and conquer, but yet a mere woman he could not get to obey, had to really bust his ego...especially in front of this particular group.

In Chapter 1:13 we read that the king consulted his advisors that "understood the times." Consider what was going on in the world around King Xerxes:

There was already rebellion in the land that he had to put in check.

There was an ever-increasing threat that the Jews in Jerusalem were rebuilding a city for power (not to worship God).

There was a constant push for power and to conquer more land. There was always a threat of the next war or the next military conquest.

Needless to say, the kings had to have the ability to put on a show that all was well in the kingdom and that he was powerful and in control.

When Vashti refuses to obey the king, his advisors see this as an act that could spark a revolt. First, they see that a revolt could start in the nations who might get word of this disobedience and see King Xerxes as a weak king and an easy over-throw. Second, and possibly more threatening, was the revolt that could start at home. If other wives found out the queen didn't have to obey her king, why would wives have to obey their husbands. This was a battle of ego for sure.

Also, a note to make here... the advisors referred to in this part of the story are the same advisors mentioned in Ezra 7:14 who went with Ezra back to Jerusalem. They were obedient to the king they served, but I am sure were sick of being "bossed around" by these lesser-than people such as Vashti and Ezra.

In Chapter 1:19-22 we see several important things happen here that clearly show us who King Xerxes is as well as his advisors:

The advisors suggest that the king issue a decree that states Vashti can't come before the king anymore. That means she doesn't get any sort of an audience with the king - personal or political. She is basically divorced at the announcement of this decree and striped of her queen "perks."

The advisors suggest that Vashti be replaced by someone "better than she." Meaning, they want a queen that will comply and obey, not necessarily be a better queen. Queens had leadership. They typically oversaw several aspects of the kingdom from the servants and harems to other work done throughout the kingdom. The advisors didn't look at the job she did or how well she handled her duties as queen, they just wanted someone for the king that wouldn't cause any problems for them.

Not only did the advisors want the king to declare the demotion of Vashti, they also wanted the king to include a statement that would remove any doubt as to the pecking order of every home -- women were to "respect" their husbands.

Shortly after this decree was made, King Xerxes goes up against Greece as planned. It takes six years for him to replace Vashti. During that six-year time, she was in limbo.... not a queen, but not yet replaced either. Losing her queen title would have left without any future. Who would marry her? Who would take care of her? What was her legacy? We don't really know what ever happened to this brave woman who wasn't afraid to say "no."

Chapter 2 begins with a rather interesting statement about King Xerxes:

When his anger had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what he had done.

It makes you wonder did the king regret what he did in his anger? Did he act to extremely? Did he miss her or wonder how she was?

The next couple of verses tell us that the king's personal attendants suggested that they bring the king some beautiful virgins. That they seek every corner of the kingdom and bring to the palace the most beautiful girls for preparation to come before the king.

I love that this is what they suggest. I have to believe that the king was probably angry and irritable. He didn't conquer Greece like he had planned - he lost. He comes home to find the reminder that his beautiful queen (who would normally be there to console him and make him feel better) was not able to be there for him because the king had banished her. He has to be stomping around like an angry bear. Don't you know that those attendants were putting their heads together behind closed doors trying to come up with a way to make the king happy. You know if the king ain't happy... ain't no one happy!

So, the search begins....

Study Plan

DAY 1: Esther 1:1-8 Optional Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:15-23

What do these verses tell you about the king?

What can you observe about the king that might not align with God's ideals of how we live our lives?

What stands out most to you in this group of scripture?